Postherpetic Neuralgia

Honorio T. Benzon, M.D.
Professor

Department of Anesthesiology
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL

Introduction - TOP

Herpes Zoster and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) are caused by reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus (VZV).  After acute exposure to VZV, either through chicken pox or VZV vaccination, the VZV remains latent in the dorsal root ganglia.  The major risk factors for reactivation and resultant herpes zoster are advanced age and immune compromise. Disease, age, and drug related compromise of cellular immunity also increase the incidence of herpes zoster. Other lesser risk factors include Caucasian race, psychological stress, and physical trauma.1,2

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